Day To Day Life Gardening Hacks You Must Know: Well! We all know that for ages, many items from our kitchen and daily routine have played a vital role in gardening. Yet, many people are still unaware of the incredible results these simple household materials can deliver when used correctly in the garden.
While some may know these items are useful, they often don’t understand how to apply them effectively. In today’s article, we’ll explore some basic yet powerful household materials—often discarded as waste—that can be repurposed to benefit your plants.
These common items not only serve a purpose in the kitchen but can also work wonders in your garden. Plus, we’ll share some handy gardening hacks to make your gardening journey more effective and enjoyable.
Gardening Hacks You Must Know
1. Using Empty Coconuts in Gardening
After drinking coconut water, the leftover shells are often discarded, but they can actually be put to good use. Instead of throwing them away, these coconuts can be used to make coco peat or even placed directly inside pots.
Doing so helps reduce the amount of soil needed to fill the pot. Additionally, as the coconuts slowly decompose over time, they release nutrients that the plant roots can absorb.
However, since the decomposition process is quite slow, it’s best to use them only with permanent plants, not seasonal ones. In larger pots, you can easily add 3–4 coconut shells to reduce the soil requirement effectively.
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Importance of Coco Peat in Gardening
2.Trim the roots – Avoid using new pot
Generally, after 2–3 years, as a plant grows well, it may require a bigger pot due to the risk of becoming root-bound. Root-bound conditions can negatively affect the plant’s health. However, repotting into a larger pot isn’t always necessary.
You can carefully remove the plant along with the root ball from its current pot, trim the roots slightly from the bottom, and replant it in the same pot using a refreshed soil mix. This method works for many plants, but not all.
Some plants demand a bigger pot because their growth is vigorous or their leaves become too large for the existing space, making it essential to shift them to a larger container for healthy development.
3. Give Your Seedlings Space
While growing seedlings, it’s common for multiple seeds to germinate in a single pot. Although they may grow initially, they shouldn’t all be left together in the same container. It’s important to carefully remove and transplant some of the seedlings into separate pots to give them the space and care they need.
Seedlings require adequate room and nutrients to grow properly, which a single pot cannot provide for all of them. As they begin to grow and gain height, overcrowding can lead to stunted growth. For example, in a 10-inch pot, only about 8–10 carrot seedlings should be grown—any more than that can harm their development.
If the extra seedlings are not thinned out or transplanted, they will start to compete for space and resources, eventually damaging each other. So, to ensure healthy growth, save your extra seedlings and plant them in new pots. This way, you’ll give each plant a better chance to thrive.
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4. Soap Hack to Protect Your Nails While Gardening
While gardening, it’s common for soil to get stuck under your nails, which can damage them over time. A simple and effective trick is to rub your fingernails across a bar of soap before you start gardening. This fills the space under your nails and prevents dirt from getting trapped.
Once you’re done, just wash your hands, and you’ll notice your nails stay clean and protected. One bar of soap can last you a lifetime for this purpose—a small step for long-term nail care during gardening!
5. Compost Tea: A Liquid Boost for Your Plants
While making compost at home, you may notice some water seeping out during the process. Don’t discard this liquid — it’s highly beneficial for plants. This nutrient-rich water, often called compost tea, is packed with healthy bacteria that enhance soil quality.
Within just 2–3 days of composting, you can collect around half a litre of compost tea. Dilute it in 5 litres of water and use it to nourish seedlings as well as all other plants in your garden
Using these simple hacks can make your gardening experience more creative and budget-friendly!
| About the AuthorMrs. Sudeepti Bajpai is a passionate gardener and plant lover with over 15 years of experience. She helps people grow thriving gardens through container, balcony, and terrace gardening, and has successfully grown many vegetables in pots and limited spaces. On her YouTube channel “Voice of Plant,” she teaches people the science and logic behind gardening in a simple, practical way — from composting and repotting to pruning and plant care routines. Follow us: |
Happy Gardening!
